New Sony XDCAM - the PMW-100

[Per-Axel Gjores]

Sneak Peek Sony PMW-100 XDCAM 50Mbps Camera | Cinescopophilia Camera Gear Rigs and News for Filmmakers

Another new camera from Sony! This time it's the new XDCAM addition, the Sony PMW-100!

"Sony have more goodies coming out of the bag with the PMW-100 XDCAM camcoder. Expect the Sony 1/3″ chip PMW-100 XDCAM to record 50Mbps via a HD422 codec to solid state memory devices like SD cards, SxS and to the new XQD card format. The Sony PMW-100 has switchable recording at HD422 50Mbps, HD420 35, and DVCAM 25Mbps. Recording also has a 15 second pre-recording cache. The Sony PMW-100 camera comes with all the extras you would expect from camcorders like dual XLR inputs a zoom rocker, Timecode, Genlock & SDI, Zebra, Peaking, Gain, Exposure, Picture Profile etc. The camera lens is a fixed 10x zoom."

* Switchable codecs up to 50Mbps 4:2:2

* Records to SD, SxS and XQD cards

* 1/3" chip

[Tom Bostick]

hmm looks like a direct competitor for the canon xf 105

(meant xf 105 not 100)

[Glen Vandermolen]

That's a really sharp camera! Sony's on a roll today - that's the third camera announced!

[Dylan Couper]

Very nice!
Wonder if we'll see some new life in the EX1/EX3 line soon.

[Ron Evans]

Originally Posted by Tom Bostick

hmm looks like a direct competitor for the canon xf 100

I think the XF105 with the HD-SDi and genloc. Be interesting to see if Sony bring out the Prosumer version that they usually do. No genloc, no SxS etc then it would be another interesting product in the lineup. Replacing the NX5 AX2000 in the lineup. Though it is not as user capable as the NX5U as there is only a single lens ring and just 10 times zoom that makes it look like another variant on the top consumer model PJ/CX 760.

Ron Evans

[Chris Hurd]

Ron is quite correct, this is a direct competitor to the Canon XF105, not the XF100.

Hmmm, you say how about an NXCAM version that takes on the XF100...? Interesting!

[Glen Vandermolen]

So why couldn't Sony put this codec into a bigger camera. Oh, say, the F3 and FS700?

But hmm...maybe an EX5?

[Ron Evans]

I have got used to shooting with my NX5U BUT the video image is noisy compared to my CX700, I would like 60P and the ability to use some of the nice consumer features on the other Sony's I have like "spot focus" etc. Sort of dumb since the NX5U has a touch LCD but is not used for any of these useful features.

I expect we will see more Sony announcements over the next week. Exciting !!!

Ron Evans

[Buba Kastorski]

Originally Posted by Glen Vandermolen

But hmm...maybe an EX5?

oh, that would be awesome!

[Zach Love]

This is the Sony camera of the day that has peaked my interest the most. And mostly because I feel like it might mean a new EX1 / EX3 series camera is close to being announced.

If this is Sony's response to the XF105, will they update the EX1 to compete even more with the XF305?

[Steve Kalle]

It is really dumb business if Sony does not release a major update to the EX1r and EX3. Just look at how many current EX1/3 owners keep asking for an updated model, which means many of us are looking to *upgrade* our existing cameras, which means MORE sales for Sony. Even though the XF300/305 are not *better* in many aspects than the EX1/3, these Canons are selling at a lower price and taking away many possible sales from Sony with many preferring the 50Mb/s.

With the 2 new cameras announced today, it finally seems that Sony is not being overly protective of its high end cameras - which is GREAT!

[Emmanuel Plakiotis]

Although a 3 chip 1/2inch mpeg2 50mbits is the missing link in the lineup, I don't think it will materialize soon. With the s35 format craze, maybe there isn't a market for them anymore, especially the interchangeable lens variant. Such a camera will also hurt the sales of the 320 and 350, unless of course they upgrade simultaneously.
it could turn out as a 3 chip 1/3 50mbit camera instead, a direct competion to XF300/305 and 250 and more competitive priced than a 1/2 camera.

[Jack Zhang]

XQD in the announcement is promising. We could see firmware updates to support XQD for the EX1/EX1R/EX3 soon.

The nanoFlash fills the hole that the lack of 4:2:2 in the current EX series has left for some people.

[Emmanuel Plakiotis]

Any information on the price?

[Glen Vandermolen]

Originally Posted by Jack Zhang

The nanoFlash fills the hole that the lack of 4:2:2 in the current EX series has left for some people.

Yeah, but I hate adding more attachments to a camera, especially one that has to be powered. That's one of the reasons I picked the XF305 over the EX1R/3 - the 50mbps, 4:2:2 codec.